DPA Automated Assembly and Packaging Machine

ABSTRACT

This patent relates to a machine that automatically assembles, inspects, and packages disposable prophylaxis angles. The machine includes a movable table including a plurality of fixtures on which angle components are assembled and the assembled angles are inspected. The movable table is surrounded by a number of stations, each of which performs a different operation of the assembly and inspection procedure. Feeders automatically supply the angle components to their respective stations for assembly. Angles that are incorrectly assembled are automatically rejected. Properly assembled angles are automatically sealed in individual bags. Individually bagged angles are counted into batches by the machine and automatically sealed into cartons.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/405,098 filed Apr. 17, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/652,742 filed Aug. 29, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,047,706 issued May 23, 2006), which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/821,880 filed Mar. 30, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No.6,655,015 issued Dec. 2, 2003). The entire disclosures of the aboveapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a machine that automaticallyassembles, inspects, and packages disposable prophylaxis angles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dentists and hygienists have used prophylaxis (prophy) angles for over100 years to clean and polish teeth. Until recently, prophy angles weremade of metal so they could be used over and over again, one patientafter the next. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases frompatient to patient, the dentist or hygienist cleaned and sterilized theangle after each use.

In recent years, a market has developed for disposable prophy angles duein part to increased awareness and concern for the spread of infectiousdiseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Since disposable prophy angles arediscarded after each use, they must be produced in extraordinarilygreater quantities than the metal angles they have replaced. As aresult, a need exists to develop cost-effective processes formanufacturing disposable prophy angles in large quantities.

There are three basic steps in the production of disposable prophyangles: the manufacture of the components of the angle, the assembly ofthe angle components, and the packaging of the assembled angles. Thepackaging step can be further subdivided into individual bagging, batchcounting, and carton sealing.

The manufacture of individual angle components and the bagging ofassembled angles are traditionally performed by automated machinerysince this is the most cost-effective means currently available for massproduction and the machinery to perform these functions is available dueto the fact that a multitude of products are manufactured and packagedin a manner similar to disposable prophy angles. The assembly step,however, is done largely by hand since automated machinery for prophyangle assembly is not readily available. Such equipment must be designedspecifically for this. The batch-counting step is also performed largelyby hand since this equipment must also be designed specifically for thispurpose and because, to be practical, it must be integrated with otherautomated machinery. Carton sealing equipment, although readilyavailable, must also be integrated with other automated machinery inorder to be practical.

While the assembly of prophy angles by hand has the advantage ofrequiring minimal initial investment; it has several inherentdisadvantages. Lubrication on the bearings and gears of disposableprophy angles provides smoother operation and increased life. Yet, whendone by hand, this step can be somewhat difficult and add a significantamount of time, and therefore cost, to the assembly operation.Controlling the amount of lubricant applied in hand assembly can also bedifficult. An angle that is under-lubricated may run less smoothly oroverheat when used. Lubricant may leak out of an over-lubricated anglemaking it messy for the end user, and ultimately the patient in whosemouth the device will be used.

Another disadvantage is the variability in quality of the finishedproduct. Due to the repetitious nature of assembly by hand, it is oftendifficult for assembly personnel to remain focused on their work. Forthis reason, along with the fact that large numbers of assemblypersonnel are required, variability in the quality of the finishedproduct, especially related to the application of lubricant is aconstant problem.

All of the disadvantages above add to the cost of hand-assembleddisposable prophy angles in order to ensure that they are clean, safe,and high quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The machine consists of four main units: the assembly unit, the baggingunit, the batch-counting unit, and the carton-sealing unit. The assemblyunit assembles the components of the angles and inspects the assembledangles. The bagging unit individually seals each angle in a bag. Thebatch-counting unit automatically counts batches of bagged angles andsegregates them into cartons. The carton-sealing unit seals filledcartons of bagged angles. A programmable logic controller is used tomonitor and direct all machine functions.

The assembly unit is modular in design, consisting of a center mainmodule attached to a number of surrounding feed modules. All of the feedmodules are securely attached to the main module such that the modulescollectively function as one large, rigid unit.

A separate feed module is required to supply each different component ofthe prophy angle to be assembled. Each feed module consists of a rigidbase to which is mounted equipment for orienting and feeding prophyangle components. This feed equipment is preferably fully automatic,meaning it requires an operator to simply fill a container with theparts to be fed, and may be vibratory, centrifugal, gravity, or anyother type such as these that are commonly known in the art.

The main module consists of a rigid base to which is mounted a movabletable. The movable table consists preferably of a rotary indexer with ahorizontal, circular dial plate; however, any type of indexing conveyormay be used. A plurality of assembly fixtures is mounted on the topsurface of the dial plate, equally spaced along the perimeter. Eachassembly fixture includes at least one mounting post to receive andsecurely support a prophy angle, the mounting post being similar in sizeand shape to the Doriot nose of the dentist's handpiece. The mountingpost includes a lengthwise through hole that allows the insertion of theprophy angle drive shaft. A pin in the hole is slideable between twopositions and held in place by a spring-loaded ball plunger. This pin isused to hold the drive shaft in an intermediate position during assemblyfor applying lubricant to the drive shaft bearings. Each assemblyfixture also includes a mechanism for closing the prophy angle body.

The main module includes a number of modular stations. Each station is alocation on the main module base at a position around the dialcorresponding in a one-to-one relationship with each of the assemblyfixtures on the dial. At each station the main module base preferablyincludes a hole pattern that is common to all stations to facilitatequick repairs and to allow interchangeability of components from onestation to another.

At each station a different operation is performed simultaneously on thedial plate while the dial is in the dwell, or stationary position. Whenall of the operations are complete, the dial indexes, moving all of theassembly fixtures one position to the next adjacent station and theoperations are repeated. As the dial rotates, the components of theprophy angle are assembled and the assembly verified in the fixtures onthe dial. The assembled angles are either accepted or rejected as theyare removed from the dial. Rejected angles are collected by the machinefor later review. Accepted angles are conveyed to the bagging unit.

The bagging unit is preferably integrated with the assembly unit but maybe operated independently. The bagging unit, preferably includes aform-fill-and-seal bagging machine, a type that is readily available andcommonly known to those skilled in the art. The bagging unit furtherincludes a feeder for feeding assembled angles to the bagging machine.Assembled angles are carried from the assembly unit by a first conveyorto the feeder of the bagging unit. The assembled angle feeder orientsand feeds the angles to a magazine located directly above the baggingunit. An escapement mechanism, which is triggered by the bagging unit toensure proper timing, is located at the end of the magazine and releasesone angle at a time, dropping it into the bagging unit.

The individually bagged angles drop from the bagging unit into a secondconveyor that carries them to a diverting mechanism of thebatch-counting unit where the bagged angles are either accepted orrejected. A signal, indicating a malfunction, from the bagging unitactivates the diverting mechanism to reject angles. Controls areprovided to allow the machine operator to manually override thediverting mechanism and reject angles at his or her discretion. Baggedangles that have been rejected are collected by the machine for laterreview.

Bagged angles that are accepted by the batch-counting unit are countedand placed in batches into cartons. The batch-counting unit counts eachbagged angle, preferably as it drops into a carton located on a firstaccumulating conveyor directly below. The accumulating conveyor servesas a magazine for empty cartons supplied to the batch-counting unit.When the count reaches the batch size as predetermined by the operator,it resets to zero and the batch-counting unit begins counting anotherbatch. At the same time, while continuing to count, the batch-countingunit collects the first several bagged angles of the present batch toallow a transfer mechanism to remove the recently filled carton andreplace it with an empty one. Once a new empty carton is in place, thecollected bagged angles are released and bagged angles of the presentbatch continue to drop freely into the carton below. When the countreaches the predetermined batch size, the cycle repeats.

The full carton is transferred by the transfer mechanism to a secondaccumulating conveyor from its position directly below thebatch-counting unit. The second conveyor carries full cartons away fromthe batch-counting unit to the carton-sealing unit, and is intended todirectly interface with automated carton sealing machinery, which iscommonly known in the art.

The carton-sealing unit, which may be operated independently, ispreferably integrated with the second accumulating conveyor so that thecartons are sealed as the conveyor carries them through thecarton-sealing unit. From the carton-sealing unit, the secondaccumulating conveyor carries the sealed cartons to an unloading stationwhere an operator removes them. Preferably, the first and secondaccumulating conveyors are located side-by-side so that a singleoperator can introduce empty cartons and remove filled cartons from thesame operator station.

In an alternate embodiment, reusable batch containers are used insteadof cartons. Bagged angles are placed into reusable containers that arecarried by the second accumulating conveyor to the unloading station.The carton-sealing unit, which is not required in this embodiment, maybe either de-activated or removed. At the unloading station, baggedangles are transferred from the reusable container to a carton, bag, orother package. The reusable batch container is placed back on the firstconveyor returning it to the batch-counting unit for refilling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the assembly unit of the machineillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a fixture mounted to the dialplate illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a fixture mounted to the dial plate illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a fixture mounted to the dial plate illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a fixture mounted to the dial plateillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of Station One of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the isolator of Station One illustrated inFIG. 7 with the isolator slide in the “down” position.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the isolator of Station One illustrated inFIG. 7 with the isolator slide in the “up” position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of Station One illustrated in FIG. 7 with thepick-and-place in the “up” position and the isolator slide in the “down”position.

FIG. 11 is a side view of Station One illustrated in FIG. 7 with thepick-and-place in the “down” position and the isolator slide in the “up”position.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of Stations Two, Five, and Eight of the preferredembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Two shown inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of Station Three of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a partially cross-sectioned front view of the isolator ofStation Three shown in FIG. 14 with the isolator slide in the “down”position.

FIG. 16 is a partially cross-sectioned front view of the isolator ofStation Three shown in FIG. 14 with the isolator slide in the “up”position.

FIG. 17 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Three shownin FIG. 14 with the pick-and-place mechanism in the “up” position andthe isolator in the “down” position.

FIG. 18 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Three shownin FIG. 14 with the pick-and-place mechanism in the “down” position andthe isolator in the “up” position.

FIG. 19 is a side view of Station Four of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Five shownin FIG. 12.

FIG. 21 is a side view of Station Six of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of Station Seven of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the isolator of Station Seven shown in FIG.22 with the isolator slide in the “down” position.

FIG. 24 is a front view of the isolator of Station Seven shown in FIG.22 with the isolator slide in the “up” position.

FIG. 25 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Seven shownin FIG. 22 with the pick-and-place mechanism in the “up” position andthe isolator slide in the “down” position.

FIG. 26 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Seven shownin FIG. 22 with the pick-and-place mechanism in the “down” position andthe isolator slide in the “up” position.

FIG. 27 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Eight shownin FIG. 12.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of Station Nine of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Nine shownin FIG. 28 with the air cylinder retracted and the fixture in the “open”position.

FIG. 30 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Nine shownin FIG. 28 with the air cylinder extended and the fixture in the“closed” position.

FIG. 31 is a plan view of Station Eleven of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Eleven shownin FIG. 31 with the pick-and-place in its retracted position and theisolator in its extended position.

FIG. 33 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Eleven shownin FIG. 31 with the pick-and-place in its extended position and theisolator in its retracted position.

FIG. 34 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Twelve ofthe preferred embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a plan view of Station Thirteen of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Thirteenshown in FIG. 35 with the pick-and-place in the “up” position with onetube in the “accept” position and one tube in the “reject” position.

FIG. 37 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Thirteenshown in FIG. 35 with the pick-and-place in the “down” position with onetube in the “accept” position and one tube in the “reject” position.

FIG. 38 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of Station Fourteen ofthe preferred embodiment.

FIG. 39 is an elevation view of the bagging and batch-counting units ofthe preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment consists of an assemblyunit 17, a bagging unit 18, a batch-counting unit 19, and acarton-sealing unit 20. The preferred arrangement of these unitsrelative to one another is shown in FIG. 1. They may, however, bearranged in any convenient manner as space permits.

In FIG. 1, the assembly unit 17 assembles the components of the prophyangle, and inspects the assembled angles. Upon inspection, the anglesare either accepted or rejected. The rejected angles are collected in acontainer 22 for later review.

A first belt conveyor 23 carries the accepted angles to the bagging unit18, which individually bags each angle. A second belt conveyor 24carries the bagged angles to the batch-counting unit 19 where batches ofangles are counted and placed into empty cartons 25.

A first accumulating conveyor 26 supplies empty cartons 25 to thebatch-counting unit 19. A second accumulating conveyor 30 carries thefull cartons 27 from the batch-counting unit 19 through thecarton-sealing unit 20 to a location 28 where the sealed cartons 29 canbe handled by personnel for shipment.

The assembly unit 17, shown in FIG. 2, consists of a center main module41 attached to four surrounding feed modules 42 thru 45 and alubricant-dispensing module 46. Four feed modules are preferred becausethis embodiment is intended to assemble the disposable prophy angledescribed in U.S. Pat. RE34,997. Since the number of feed modules isequal to the number of angle components to be assembled, alternateembodiments may include more or less than four feed modules.

The main module 41 consists of a base 47 (shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13,17-21, 25-27, 29-30 32-34, and 38), an indexer 48, a dial plate 49,fixtures 50, and stations 1 thru 16. Note in FIGS. 1 and 2 that themachine components mounted at each station 1 thru 16 are not shown.These components have been omitted for clarity. FIGS. 7 thru 39 aredrawings of the stations 1 thru 16 presented individually so that eachmay be illustrated with the necessary detail.

Each station 1 thru 16 performs a different operation of the assembly orinspection procedure. Sixteen stations are preferred in this embodiment.Thirteen of these stations are provided to complete the necessaryassembly and inspection operations, and three stations are provided foradditional operations if the need arises. In alternate embodiments, moreor less than sixteen stations may be used depending on the number ofoperations required for the particular disposable prophy angle to beassembled and inspected.

The main module base 47 is preferably a table-like welded steel frameapproximately thirty inches in height with a welded and ground steel topthat provides a precision machined surface for mounting the indexer 48and stations 1 thru 16. The base 47 is sized to accommodate the indexer48, dial plate 49, fixtures 50, and stations 1 thru 16.

An indexer 48 is mounted in the center of the main base 47. As is commonin the art, the indexer 48 has the same number of positions as thenumber of stations surrounding it so that each position on the dialplate 49 corresponds to a station 1 thru 16. In the preferredembodiment, the prophy angle described by U.S. Pat. RE34,997 is to beassembled. A sixteen-position indexer is preferred in this embodimentbecause sixteen position indexers are common purchased items to thoseskilled in the art and because sixteen positions will accommodate all ofthe operations required in this embodiment with a few stations remainingopen for additional operations or to allow the machine to be adapted toassemble a prophy angle other than the angle described in U.S. Pat.RE34,997.

The indexer 48 preferably includes a stationary center post 68, afeature common to commercial indexers. This stationary center post 68 ismounted to the main base 47 through a hole in the center of the indexer48 and the dial plate 49. The center post 68 is preferably made fromtubular steel such as pipe or mechanical tubing to provide a stationarysupport in the center of the dial plate 49 and to serve as a conduit forelectrical wiring and/or compressed air lines. The specific use of thecenter post 68 will be discussed later.

The circular dial plate 49 is mounted to the indexer 48 such thattogether, the indexer 48 and the dial plate 49 form a movable table withsixteen precise positions. Sixteen fixtures 50 (one for each position ofthe indexer) are mounted to the dial plate 49, equally spaced along theperimeter. Each fixture 50 is used to hold the prophy angle componentsas they are assembled. Each fixture 50 is identical and, therefore,interchangeable with any other.

In a circle around the dial plate 49, sixteen stations 1 thru 16 arepaired in a one-to-one relationship with the sixteen fixtures 50 on thedial plate 49. At each station 1 thru 16, a hole pattern 31 is providedin the main base that is common to all of the stations 1 thru 16. Thiscommon hole pattern 31 is part of a modular design which simplifiesconstruction and reduces cost by allowing stations 1 thru 16 to beconstructed using interchangeable components. The modular station designalso increases versatility and reduces maintenance time by allowingstations to be quickly interchanged and/or replaced.

Each fixture 50 includes means for receiving at least part of theclosure of angle body B and means for receiving and holding a respectiveangle body B by the portion of the angle body B attachable to a dentalhandpiece in an orientation to receive a drive shaft such that at leasta portion of the closure is adjacent the means for receiving at leastpart of the closure of the angle body B. Each fixture 50, shown indetail in FIGS. 3 thru 6, consists of a base plate 77 to which twomounting posts 78 are attached by a nut 79. A mounting post 78 servesthe purpose of securely supporting the angle components during assembly.The mounting post 78 resembles the Doriot nose of the dental handpieceand, like the Doriot dental handpiece, is sized to snugly receive aprophy angle. This method of securing the angle is preferred since thedimensions of the Doriot nose and the mating features of dental angleshave been standardized by the International Standards Organization(ISO). Therefore, aesthetic differences or changes in the design of theangle have no effect on the ability of this machine to assemble theangle. Angles of different shapes and sizes can be assembled withoutrequiring retooling.

A key 80 extends perpendicularly from the mounting post 78. This key 80serves to maintain proper alignment of the angle on the post 78 byengaging the Doriot slot in the body of the angle to prevent the anglefrom rotating. The key 80 is preferably formed from a pin press fit intoa hole in the side of the mounting post.

Two alignment pins 81, shown in FIGS. 5 & 6, are press fit into holes 82in the base plate 77. Each alignment pin 81 extends from the base plate77 to engage a groove 83 in each of the mounting posts 78 to ensureproper alignment of the mounting posts 78 in the fixture 50.

The mounting post 78 includes a lengthwise through hole 84. A pin 85 isslideable in the hole 84 between two positions, “up” and “down”, whichare defined by two grooves 86 in the pin 85 and a spring-loaded ballplunger 87 mounted at a right angle and with access to the lengthwisehole 84. The ball of the spring-loaded ball plunger 87 engages thegrooves 86 in the pin 85 in both the “up” and “down” positions to limitfree movement of the pin 85 and prevent the pin 85 from falling out ofthe mounting post 78. This pin 85 is used to facilitate the lubricationof the drive shaft as discussed in detail below.

Each fixture 50 further includes a mechanism for closing the body of theangle. The housing 90 and two bearing blocks 91 together support a setof four ball bearings 92. These bearings 92, arranged in axial alignmentwith each other, support a two-piece, cylindrical shaft 93 consisting ofa right half 94 and a left half 95. Both halves 94 & 95 include acut-away section 96 in which approximately ¾ of the shaft material hasbeen removed to provide clearance for both the prophy angle and thegripper fingers that mount the prophy angles onto the posts 78. Thecut-away sections 96 of both shaft halves 94 & 95 further include arecess 97 for receiving the closure of the prophy angle body. The twoshaft halves 94 & 95 are attached in a male/female relationship andaligned with each other by a roll pin through a hole that extends at aright angle to the axis of the shaft 93 through both of the shaft halves94 & 95.

Within the housing 90 is a push rod 100 accessible from the front of thehousing 90 and slideably supported by two bronze bushings 101 pressedinto the housing 90. Mounted to the push rod 100 is a collar block 102to which is attached a length of roller chain 103. The roller chain 103wraps around a sprocket 104 mounted in the center of the shaft 93. Theother end of the roller chain 103 is attached to an extension spring 105attached by a pin 106 to the rear of the housing 90. A dust cover 107 isattached to the housing 90 to enclose the components within the housing90 while providing access to the push rod 100 at the front of thefixture 50.

The push rod 100 is threaded at its rear end extending from the rear ofthe housing 90. A pair of jam nuts 108 on the threaded end of the pushrod 100 is used for precise angular adjustment of shaft 93. An elasticwasher 109 is placed on the push rod 100 between the jam nuts 108 andthe housing 90 to serve as a shock absorber when the push rod 100retracts.

Each station 1 thru 16 of the assembly unit 17 performs a differentoperation in the assembly of the prophy angle. These operations areperformed simultaneously as a sequence of four steps. The following is adescription of each station and the four steps it performs.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7 thru 9, there are illustrated means foraccepting randomly oriented angel bodies B, orienting the randomlyoriented angle bodies B, and feeding the oriented bodies B along atrack, and means for suspending the angle bodies B from the accumulationsection by the hinged closure of each angle body B. As shown in FIG. 2,a first feed module 42 feeds angle bodies B to Station One 1. This feedmodule 42 consists of a steel base 51 similar to the main base 47described above but sized for mounting two vibratory feeder bowls 52 andtwo gravity track magazines 53. Two feeder bowls 52 are preferred, oneclockwise and the other counterclockwise, so that the angle bodies B canbe fed with the desired orientation described below. The feeder bowls 52and gravity track magazines 53 are mounted on their base 51 such thatone set is a mirror image of the other, feeding angle bodies B toStation One 1 from opposite directions.

From the feeder bowls 52, prophy angle bodies B slide down the inclinedrails of their respective gravity track magazines 53 to the bodyisolator 54 at the bottom of the two magazines 53. Angle bodies Baccumulate in each magazine 53 until a photoelectric sensor near the topof the magazine senses that the magazine is full, shutting off itsfeeder bowl. The weight of the accumulated bodies B in each magazineensures that the body B1 at the bottom of the magazine is properlypositioned in the isolator 54. A containment rail 123 in each magazine53 prevents the bodies B from climbing over one another or falling outof the magazine.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate means for isolating a single body B1 from eachgravity track magazine 53 for transfer to the fixture 50 by applying anupward force to the body B1 to lift the suspended body B1 from thegravity track magazine 53. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the body isolator54 consists preferably of a welded steel frame 120. Both of the bodymagazines 53 are mounted to the isolator frame 120 such that the bodiesB1 at the end of each magazine 53 are hanging parallel to each other,side by side, and spaced apart a distance equal to the distance betweenthe mounting posts 78. Mounted to the isolator frame 120 directly belowthe ends of the magazines 53 is an air-driven slide 121 to which a pairof studs 122 is attached. Each stud 122 is positioned in axial alignmentwith one of the bodies B1 hanging above and sized to fit loosely withinthe Doriot opening of the body.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 10 and 11, there is illustrated means for taking,orienting, and placing an angle body B1 on a mounting post 78 in afixture 50. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a pick-and-place unit 130 ismounted to the main base 47 at Station One 1 between the body isolator54 and the dial plate 49. The pick-and place unit 130 consists of awelded steel frame 131 to which is mounted an air-driven slide 132 toprovide up and down motion of about three inches. Mounted on top of theslide 132 is an air-driven, 180° rotary actuator 133 to which isattached a gripper mounting plate 134 with two pairs of air-driven,parallel grippers 135 and 136. Air is supplied to the four grippers suchthat when the first pair 135 is open, the second pair 136 is closed andvice-versa. Each of the four grippers 135 and 136 is equipped with apair of fingers 137 shaped for clamping the neck of an angle body B1.The gripper fingers 137 include an extension 138 that makes contact withthe non-cylindrical portion of the body B1 to ensure proper orientationduring the transfer from the isolator to the fixture 50.

Station One 1 performs the operation of loading bodies B1 into thefixtures 50 on the dial plate 49 as follows:

Step 1: The isolator slide 121 extends to its “up” position causing theisolator studs 122 to engage, from below, the two bodies B1 hanging atthe end of each magazine 53 in the isolator 54. The two bodies B1 arelifted from the magazines 53 by the studs 122 to an isolated positionapproximately 1½ inches above the magazines 53. The containment rails123 are sized to allow only the bodies B1 at the end of the magazines 53to be lifted by the studs 122. Simultaneously, the pick-and-place 130lowers to its “down” position where two bodies B2 already held by theclosed pair of grippers 136 are placed onto the mounting posts 78 of anempty fixture 50 on the dial plate 49. The slots 139 in the bodies B2engage the keys 80 on the mounting posts 78, and the body closures 140rest in the recesses 97 of the shaft 93. This downward motion alsoplaces the open grippers 135 in position to grip the two bodies B1lifted by the isolator 54.

Step 2: Sensors verify these motions so that immediately uponcompletion, the two grippers 135 at the isolator 54 close, gripping twobodies B1 while the two grippers 136 at the fixture 50 open, releasingtwo bodies in the fixture 50.

Step 3: The pick-and-place 130 lifts, removing the two bodies B1 fromthe studs 122 of the isolator 54 and leaving two bodies B2 on themounting posts 78 in the fixture 50. At the same time, the isolatorslide 121 retracts to its “down” position, lowering the studs 122, whichcreates an open space at the end of each magazine 53. The weight of thebodies B in each magazine 53 causes the bodies B to slide down, fillingthe two open spaces with the next body B in each line.

Step 4: When sensors detect the completion of Step 3, the rotaryactuator 133 rotates 180°, transferring the bodies B1 from a positiondirectly above the isolator 54 to a position directly above the mountingposts 78 in a fixture 50 on the dial plate 49. Simultaneously, the dialplate 49 indexes one position, moving the fixture 50 at Station One 1 toStation Two 2 and introducing an empty fixture 50 to Station One 1.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a support post 150 is mounted to the mainbase 47 at Station Two 2. Attached to the support post 150 is a clampblock 151 to which a cylinder mounting plate 152 is fastened. Thecylinder mounting plate 152 supports a pair of air cylinders 153vertically aligned directly above the bodies B in the fixture 50 atStation Two 2. Each air cylinder 153 is fitted with a tip 154 sized tomake contact with the exposed brim of the gear chamber of the body B forpushing it onto the mounting post 78.

Station Two 2 performs the operations of securing bodies B in thefixture 50 and verifying the presence of the bodies as follows:

Step 1: The air cylinders 153 extend causing the tips 154 to makecontact with the bodies B, shoving the bodies B downward onto themounting posts 78.

Step 2: If a body B is not present on the mounting post 78, thecorresponding air cylinder 150 extends farther than if the body B ispresent. If this happens, a sensor detects this condition stopping themachine and sounding an alarm to notify the operator.

Step 3: The two air cylinders 150 retract.

Step 4: The dial plate 49 indexes, moving the fixtures 50 one positionto the next station.

At Station Three 3, the drive shaft is inserted into the prophy anglebody. Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated means for acceptingrandomly oriented drive shafts D, orienting the randomly oriented driveshafts D, and feeding the oriented drive shafts D along a track andmeans for suspending the drive shafts D from the accumulation section bythe gear end of each drive shaft. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive shaftfeed module 43 feeds drive shafts to Station Three 3. This feed module43 consists of a steel base 55 similar to the main base 47 describedabove but sized for mounting a dual-line vibratory feeder bowl 56 and adual in-line vibratory feeder 57. Dual-line feeders are used so thatdrive shafts can be fed in pairs to the station. Drive shafts areoriented in the feeder bowl 56 and fed diameter to diameter, hanging bythe gear to the in-line feeder 57, which also serves as a magazine tothe drive shaft isolator 160 shown in FIGS. 14 thru 18.

Referring to FIGS. 14 thru 18, there is illustrated means for isolatinga drive shaft D from the track for transfer to the body B in the fixture50 by applying an upward force to the drive shaft D to lift the driveshaft D from the track. As shown in FIGS. 14 thru 18, the drive shaftisolator 160 includes a welded steel frame 161 machined and mounted tothe main base 47 at Station Three 3. An isolator block 162 machined withtwo slots 163 for receiving drive shafts D from the in-line feeder 57 isattached near the top of the frame 161. The in-line feeder 57 feeds apair of drive shafts D into the slots 163 in the isolator block 162. Inthe isolator block 162 two drive shafts D1 hang parallel to each other,side by side, spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between themounting posts 78. Mounted to the isolator frame 161 directly below theisolator block 162 is an air-driven slide 164 to which a pair of tubes165 is attached in axial alignment with the first pair of the driveshafts D1 hanging above. A pin 166 located inside each of the two tubes165 are sized approximately one inch shorter than the tubes 165. Twoholes 167 in the isolator block 162 provide a passage for each tube 165to its respective slot 163.

The isolator block 162 includes a through hole 168 centered between theslots 163. This hole 168 includes a counter bore 169 sized for housing acompressed spring 170. A rod 171 attached to the air-driven slide 164between the tubes 165 extends through the hole 168 and the spring 170 inthe isolator block 162. A pair of containment arms 172 is pivotablymounted by pins 173 on top of the isolator block 162, one on each sideof the rod 171 such that the compressed spring 170 applies constantpressure on the containment arms 172. The containment arms 172 arepositioned in alignment with the second pair of drive shafts D3 in theisolator block. When the slide 164 is in the “up” position, the force ofthe spring 170 traps the second pair of drive shafts D3 under thecontainment arms 172 to prevent the shafts D3 from moving. The rod 171includes a cross pin 174 that makes contact with the containment arms172 when the air-driven slide 164 is in the “down” position therebyallowing drive shafts D3 to pass freely under the containment arms 172only when the slide 164 is in the “down” position.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, there is illustrated means for taking adrive shaft D and placing the drive shaft D in a body B that is on amounting post 78 in a fixture 50. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, apick-and-place unit 130 is mounted to the main base 47 at Station Three3 between the drive shaft isolator 160 and the dial plate 49. Thepick-and-place unit 130 at Station Three 3 is identical to thepick-and-place 130 at Station One 1 described above except for thegripper fingers 175 which are shaped to grip drive shafts instead ofbodies.

At Station Three 3, drive shafts are inserted into the bodies asfollows:

Step 1: The isolator slide 164 extends to its “up” position, shown inFIGS. 16 and 18, causing the tubes 165 to engage, from below, the twodrive shafts D1 hanging in the isolator block 162. At the same time, thecontainment arms 172 trap the second pair of drive shafts D3 to preventthe feeding shafts D from advancing. The drive shafts D1 are lifted inthe isolator 160 by the pins 166 and supported by the tubes 165 toextend approximately one inch above the isolator block 162.Simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 18, the pick-and-place 130 lowers toits “down” position where two drive shafts D2 already held by the closedpair of grippers 136 are placed into a pair of bodies B in the fixture50 on the dial plate 49. This downward motion also places the opengrippers 135 in position to grip the two shafts D1 lifted by theisolator 160.

Step 2: Sensors verify these motions so that immediately uponcompletion, the two grippers 135 at the isolator 160 close, gripping twodrive shafts D1 in the isolator 160. At the same time, the two grippers136 at the fixture 50 open, releasing two drive shafts D2 in the bodiesB in the fixture 50.

Step 3: The pick-and-place 130 lifts, removing the two drive shafts D1from the isolator 160 and leaving two drive shafts D2 in the bodies B inthe fixture 50. At the same time, the isolator slide 164 retracts to its“down” position, lowering the tubes 165, creating a vacancy in theisolator slot 164, and releasing the next pair of drive shafts D3 in theisolator block 162. The vibratory in-line feeder 57 advances the driveshafts D forward, filling the two open spaces with the next drive shaftD in each line.

Step 4: When the pick-and-place 130 reaches the “up” position, therotary actuator 133 rotates 180° transferring the drive shafts D1 from aposition directly above the isolator 160 to a position directly abovethe bodies B in a fixture 50 on the dial plate 49. Simultaneously, thedial plate 49 indexes, moving the fixtures 50 one position to the nextstation.

At Station Four 4 and Station Six 6, the angles are lubricated. Afood-grade, viscous lubricant such as petroleum jelly is preferred andis fed to both of these stations by the lubricant-dispensing module 46shown in FIG. 2. The lubricant-dispensing module 46 consists of athermally insulated, heated, stainless steel tank 58. Air pressure isapplied to the tank 58 to force the petroleum jelly through heated,insulated, flexible, feed lines 181 to Station Four 4 and Station Six 6shown in FIGS. 19 and 21.

Two air-operated dispensing valves 182 are attached to the end of eachfeed line 181 so that the nozzles 183 of the two valves 182 are spacedapart a distance equal to the distance between the mounting posts 78 inthe fixtures 50. The dispensing valves 182 are attached to an air-drivenslide 184 mounted to extend toward the center of the dial plate 49 at a45° angle from horizontal. The entire assembly is mounted to the mainbase 47 by a support post 150 and clamp 151.

At Station Four 4, the drive shafts D are in the bodies B held in anintermediate position, as shown in FIG. 19, by the pins 85 (see FIG. 6)inside the mounting posts 78. In this intermediate position, the driveshafts D extend approximately ⅝ of an inch above the bodies B allowingaccess to the lower drive shaft bearings D4 for lubrication as follows:

Step 1: The air-driven slide 184 extends placing the nozzles 183 of thetwo dispensing valves 182 in the fixture 50 in close proximity to thelower bearings D4 of the two drive shafts.

Step 2: The dispensing valves 182 are actuated allowing the flow oflubricant from the nozzles 183 onto the lower drive shaft bearings D4.

Step 3: The air-driven slide 184 retracts removing the nozzles 183 fromthe fixture 50.

Step 4: The dial plate 49 indexes, moving the fixtures 50 one positionto the next station.

At Station Five 5, the drive shaft is secured in the body of the angle.Referring to FIGS. 12 and 20, this station is identical in constructionand operation to Station Two 2 described above. However, referring toFIG. 20, the air cylinder tips 190 are sized to fit within the gearchamber of the body B to ensure that the drive shafts D are fullyinstalled.

Station Five 5 performs as follows:

Step 1: The air cylinders 153 extend downward shoving the two driveshafts D into the bodies B below. As a result, the pins 85 extenddownward from the bottom of the mounting posts 78.

Step 2: No action occurs.

Step 3: The air cylinders 153 retract.

Step 4: The dial plate 49 indexes moving the fixtures 50 one position tothe next station.

Station Six 6, shown in FIG. 21, is identical in construction andperformance to Station Four 4 described above. At Station Six 6,however, since the drive shaft D is fully installed in the body B, thegears of the drive shafts are lubricated instead of the bearings.

At Station Seven 7, the rotor is inserted into the body. Referring toFIG. 2, there is illustrated means for accepting randomly orientedrotors R, orienting the randomly oriented rotors R, and feeding theoriented rotors R along a track, and means for suspending the rotors Rfrom the accumulation section by the flange of each rotor R. As shown inFIG. 2, a feed module 44 feeds rotors to Station Seven 7. This feedmodule 44 consists of a steel base 59 similar to the main base 47described above but sized for mounting a vibratory feeder bowl 60 and anin-line vibratory feeder 61. Both the feeder bowl 60 and the in-linefeeder 61 are dual-line feeders so that the rotors can be fed in pairsto the station 7. Rotors are oriented in the feeder bowl 60 and feddiameter to diameter, hanging by the flange to the in-line feeder 61,which also serves as a magazine, to the rotor isolator 200 shown inFIGS. 22 THRU 26.

Referring to FIGS. 22 thru 26, there is illustrated means for isolatinga rotor R from the track for transfer to the body B in the fixture 50 byapplying an upward force to the rotor R to lift the rotor R from thetrack. As shown in FIGS. 22 thru 26, the rotor isolator 200 includes awelded steel frame 201 mounted at Station Seven 7. An isolator block 202containing a pair of tracks 203 for receiving rotors R from the in-linefeeder 61 is attached near the top of the frame 201. The in-line feeder61 feeds rotors R into the two tracks 203 of the isolator 200. Thetracks 203 curve downward and outward reorienting the rotors R axishorizontal, spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between themounting posts 78 in the fixture 50. From this position 204 the tracks203 make a sharp, right angle turn upward that, due to gravity, is tooabrupt for the rotors R to follow.

Mounted to the isolator frame 201 directly below the isolator block 202is an air-driven slide 205 to which a pair of studs 206 is attached inaxial alignment with the first pair of the rotors R1 in the tracks 203above. Two holes 207 in the isolator block 202 provide a passage foreach of the studs 206 to the rotors R1.

Referring to FIGS. 22, 25 and 26, a pick-and-place unit 130 is mountedto the main base 47 at Station Seven 7 between the rotor isolator 200and the dial plate 49. The pick-and place unit 130 consists of a weldedsteel frame 131 to which is mounted an air-driven slide 132 to provideup and down motion of about three inches. Mounted on top of the slide132 is an air-driven, 180° rotary actuator 133 to which is attached agripper mounting plate 134 with four air-driven, parallel grippers. Eachof the four grippers is equipped with a pair of fingers shaped forclamping the button of the rotor.

Referring to FIGS. 22, 25 and 26, there is illustrated means for takinga rotor R and placing the rotor R in a body B that is on a mounting post78 in a fixture 50. As shown in FIGS. 22, 25, and 26, a pick-and-placeunit 130 is mounted to the main base 47 at Station Seven 7 between therotor isolator 200 and the dial plate 49. The pick-and-place unit 130 atStation Seven 7 is identical to the pick-and-place 130 at Station One 1and Station Three 3 described above except for the gripper fingers 208which are shaped to grip rotors R instead of bodies or drive shafts.

At Station Seven 7, rotors are inserted into the bodies as follows:

Step 1: The isolator slide 205 extends to its “up” position, shown inFIG. 26, causing the studs 206 to engage, from below, the two rotors R1at the sharp turns 204 in the tracks 203 of the isolator 200. The tworotors R1 are lifted in the isolator 200 by the studs 206. The rotors R1are guided by the tracks 203 extending upward from the isolator block202. Simultaneously, the pick-and-place 130 lowers to its “down”position where two rotors R2 already held by the closed grippers 136 areplaced into a pair of bodies B in the fixture 50 on the dial plate 49.This downward motion also places the open grippers 135 in position togrip the two rotors R1 lifted by the isolator 200 at the end of thetracks 203.

Step 2: Sensors verify these motions so that immediately uponcompletion, the two grippers 135 close, gripping the two rotors R1 inthe isolator 200, while the two grippers 136 open, releasing two rotorsR2 in the fixture 50.

Step 3: The pick-and-place 130 lifts, removing the two rotors R1 fromthe isolator 200 and leaving two rotors R2 in the fixture 50. At thesame time, the isolator slide 205 retracts to its “down” position shownin FIG. 25, lowering the studs 206, which creates an open space at thesharp turns 204 in the isolator tracks 203. The vibratory in-line feeder61 advances the rotors R forward, filling the two open spaces with thenext rotor R in each track 203.

Step 4: When the pick-and-place 130 reaches the “up” position, therotary actuator 133 rotates 180° transferring the rotors R1 from aposition directly above the isolator 200 to a position directly abovethe bodies B in a fixture 50 on the dial plate 49. Simultaneously, thedial plate 49 indexes, moving the fixtures 50 one position to the nextstation.

At Station Eight 8, the rotors R are seated in the bearings of the anglebody B. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 27, Station Eight 8 is identical inconstruction and operation to Station Five 5 described above. Theoperation occurs as follows:

Step 1: The air cylinders 153 extend downward so that the tip 190 ofeach air cylinder rod makes contact with the rotor R in the fixture 50.The cylinders 153 apply downward pressure to the rotors R ensuring thatthey are properly seated in the bearings of the angle body B.

Step 2: No action occurs.

Step 3: The air cylinders 153 retract.

Step 4: The dial plate 49 indexes moving the fixtures 50 one position tothe next station.

At Station Nine 9, the angle body is snapped closed. Referring to FIGS.28 thru 30, a support post 150 is mounted to the main base 47 at StationNine 9. A clamp block 151 is attached to the support post 150. Thesupport post 150 and clamp block 151 are preferably identical to thosedescribed above making the stations modular so that they may be easilyinterchanged. An angle plate 221 is attached to the clamp block 151. Anair cylinder 220 is mounted to the angle plate 221. The air cylinder 220is positioned to extend horizontally toward the center of the dial 49 inalignment with the push rod 100. The operation occurs at Station Nine asfollows:

Step 1: As described above, the closures 140 rest in the recesses 97, ofthe shaft 93 as shown in FIG. 29. The air cylinder 220 extends as shownin FIG. 30, pushing the push rod 100, which causes the shaft 93 torotate. As the shaft 93 rotates, the closures 140 are bent over untilboth bodies B are snapped closed in the fixture 50.

Step 2: No action occurs.

Step 3: The air cylinder 220 retracts allowing the tension of the spring105, shown in FIG. 3, to return the push rod 100 and the shaft 93 totheir original positions.

Step 4: The dial plate 49 indexes, moving the fixtures 50 one positionto the next station.

Station Ten 10 is not used in the preferred embodiment. Since onlythirteen stations are required in this embodiment, Station Ten 10 isintended to be used in alternative embodiments some of which aredescribed below.

At Station Eleven 11, the prophy cup is installed on the angle.Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated means for accepting randomlyoriented prophy cups C, orienting the randomly oriented prophy cups C,and feeding the oriented prophy cups C along a track, and means forsupporting tools from the accumulation section by the base of each tool.As shown in FIG. 2, a feed module 45 feeds prophy cups to Station Eleven11. This feed module 45 consists of a steel base 62 similar to the mainbase 47 described above but sized for mounting a vibratory feeder bowl63 and an in-line vibratory feeder 64. Both the feeder bowl 63 and thein-line feeder 64 are dual-line feeders so the prophy cups can be fed inpairs to the station 11. In the feeder bowl 63, prophy cups areoriented, diameter-to-diameter, axis vertical, large diameter down, andfed to the in-line feeder 64 as shown in FIGS. 31 thru 33. The in-linefeeder 64 serves as both a feeder and a magazine to the prophy cupisolator 230.

Referring to FIGS. 31 thru 33, there is illustrated means for isolatinga single prophy cup C from each track for transfer to the fixture 50 byapplying force to the base end of the prophy cup C to separate a singleprophy cup C from each track. As shown in FIGS. 31 thru 33, the prophycup isolator 230 includes a welded steel frame 231 mounted at StationEleven 11. A rotator block 232 containing a pair of grooves 233 forreceiving prophy cups C from the in-line feeder 64 is attached at thetop of the frame 231. The in-line feeder 64 feeds cups C into the twogrooves 233 of the rotator block 232. The grooves 233 curve downwardreorienting the cups C, axis horizontal, spaced apart a distance equalto the distance between the mounting posts 78 in the fixture 50.Containment rails 234 prevent the cups C from falling out of the grooves233. The cup isolator block 235 is mounted to the rotator block 232.Also mounted to the rotator block 232 is an air-driven slide 236 towhich a pair of studs 237 is attached in axial alignment with the firstpair of cups C1 at the end of the grooves 233. Two holes 238 provide apassage for each stud 237 through both the rotator block 232 and theisolator block 235 at the end of the grooves 233. A screw 239 is locatedin a threaded hole in the isolator block 235. The end of this screw 239makes contact with the air driven slide 236 and is used to adjust thestroke of the slide 236 and, consequently, how far the cups C1 extendfrom the isolator block 235.

Referring to FIGS. 31 thru 33, there is illustrated means for taking aprophy cup C and placing the prophy cup C onto a rotor R in a fixture50. As shown in FIGS. 31 thru 33, a pick-and-place unit 240 is mountedto the main base 47 at Station Eleven 11 between the cup isolator 230and the dial plate 49. The pick-and place unit 240 consists of a steelframe 241 to which is mounted an air-driven, 180° rotary actuator 133.On top of the rotary actuator 133, two pairs of air cylinders 242 aremounted to extend horizontally in opposite directions. Attached to eachpair of cylinders 242 is a gripper mounting plate 243 with two pairs ofair-driven, parallel grippers 135 and 136. Each of the four grippers 135and 136 is equipped with a pair of fingers 244 shaped for clamping aprophy cup C.

A head support mechanism 250 is mounted directly above the fixture 50 atStation Eleven 11. The head support mechanism 250 consists of a baseplate 251 located in a generally horizontal position directly above thefixture 50 at Station Eleven 11. A pair of air cylinders 252 is mountedside-by-side to the lower side of the base plate 251. The air cylinders252 are mounted to the base plate 251 by a first pair of pivot brackets253 and are each equipped with a clevis 255. Both the pivot brackets 253and the clevises 255 are commonly purchased with the air cylinders 252.Each clevis 255 is attached to a pivot arm 256 that is mounted by asecond pair of pivot brackets 254 to the base plate 251. A screw 257 isincluded in the base plate 251 to prevent each pivot arm 256 fromaligning with its air cylinder 252, a position where the air cylinders252 may fail to actuate.

The head support mechanism 250 is mounted to a pair of clamp blocks 151directly above the fixture 50 at Station Eleven 11. A tubular frame 258,preferably made from steel pipe, extends horizontally from thestationary center post 68 described above and shown in FIG. 2. The clampblocks 151, preferably the same as those described above, are used toattach the head support mechanism 250 to the tubular frame 258.

Consistent with the modular concept, the rotary actuator 133 and thegrippers 135 and 136 are preferably identical to those described above.This arrangement simplifies the design and the manufacture of thecomponents and allows interchangeability of components between stations.

At Station Eleven prophy cups are installed as follows:

Step 1: The isolator slide 236 extends causing the studs 237 to shovethe first pair of prophy cups C1 through the pair of holes 238 in theisolator block 232. The cups C1 emerge from the holes 238 in theisolator block 232 extending about ¼ inch from the surface of the block232. The holes 238 are sized to provide interference fit with the largediameters of the cups C1. This interference fit holds the cups C1 inplace for the gripper fingers 244. Simultaneously, the two pairs of aircylinders 242 of the pick-and-place 240 extend shoving the two prophycups C2, already held by the closed grippers 136, onto the rotors R ofthe two angles in the fixture 50. This motion also places the opengrippers 135 in position to grip the two cups C1 extending from theisolator block 232.

Step 2: Sensors verify these motions so that immediately uponcompletion, the two grippers 135 near the isolator 230 close, grippingthe two cups C1 extending from the isolator block 232. At the same timethe two grippers 136 at the fixture 50 open, releasing two cups C2 thatare now attached to the rotor R.

Step 3: The cylinders 242 of the pick-and-place 240 retract, removingthe two cups C1 from the isolator block 232 and leaving the two cups C2attached to the rotor R in the fixture 50. At the same time, theisolator slide 236 retracts the studs 237, which creates an open spaceat the end of the isolator grooves 233. The vibratory in-line feeder 64pushes the cups C forward, filling the two open spaces with the nextprophy cup C in each groove 233.

Step 4: When the pick-and-place cylinders 242 are retracted, the rotaryactuator 133 rotates 180° transferring the cups C1 from a position nearthe prophy cup isolator 230 to a position directly in line with therotors R in the fixture 50. Simultaneously, the dial plate 49 indexes,moving the fixtures 50 one position to the next station.

At Station Twelve, the assembled angles are inspected to verify thepresence of the drive shafts, rotors, and cups.

Station Twelve 12, shown in FIG. 34, consists of a station post 150 towhich a clamp block 151 is attached. A sensor-mounting bracket 261 isattached to the clamp block 151. The sensor-mounting bracket 261supports two pairs of sensors. The first pair of sensors 262 detects thepresence of the prophy angle drive shaft. These sensors 262 arepreferably non-contact, solid state, inductive proximity sensors but maybe any type of sensors or switches that will indicate the presence ofthe pins 85. In the preferred embodiment, the two sensors 262 aremounted just below and at the perimeter of the dial plate 49 in aone-to-one relationship with the mounting posts 78.

The presence of drive shafts is determined by detecting the pins 85extending downward from the mounting posts 78 below the dial plate 49.The pair of inductive proximity sensors 262 is mounted to detect thepins 85. If one of the sensors 262 does not detect its corresponding pin85, the drive shaft on that mounting post 78 is not present in thatangle A, and the angle A will be rejected at Station Thirteen 13described below.

The second pair of sensors 263 detects the presence of the prophy cup C.These sensors 263 are preferably non-contact, solid state, photoelectricsensors using fiber optic cables 264 to direct the light beam at theprophy cup C. Again, any type of sensor or switch capable of indicatingthe presence of the prophy cup C may be used. In the preferredembodiment, the sensors 263 are fastened to the opposite sides of theclamp block 151 as shown in FIG. 34. A pair of holders 265 is attachedto the sensor-mounting bracket 261 and directs the light beams from thephotoelectric sensors 263 at the prophy cups C in the fixture 50.

Both prophy cups C and rotors R are detected by the photoelectricsensors 263. Fiber optic cables 264 from each sensor 263 are mounted inthe holders 265 such that the beams of light carried by the cables 264are broken by the presence of the prophy cups C in the fixture 50. Ifthe light beam of either sensor 263 is not interrupted, the prophy cup Ccorresponding to that sensor 263 is not present. Either the angle A wasassembled without a cup C, or the angle A was assembled without a rotorR and, therefore, the cup C could not be attached. In either case, theangle A will be rejected at Station Thirteen 13.

The assembled angles A are removed from the fixture 50 and are eitheraccepted or rejected by the diverter mechanism 270 at Station Thirteen13 shown in FIGS. 35 thru 37. The diverter mechanism 270 consists of asteel frame 271 to which is mounted a pair of tubes 272 hanging by pins273 that allow the tubes 272 to swing back and forth. Below the tubes272, a first chute 66 for receiving accepted angles extends downward ata 45° incline from the frame 271 along the main base 47. Also below thetubes 272, a second chute 65, for receiving rejected angles, extendsdownward at a 45° incline from the frame 271 along the main base 47 inthe direction opposite the first chute 66. A yoke 276 attaches ahorizontally mounted air cylinder 277 to the bottom of each tube 272such that when either air cylinder 277 is extended, the lower end of thetube 272 is positioned over the “rejects” chute 65, and when retracted,over the “accepts” chute 66.

A pick-and-place unit 130 is mounted to the main base 47 at StationThirteen 13 between the dial plate 49 and the diverter mechanism 270.The pick-and place unit 130 consists of a welded steel frame 280 towhich is mounted an air-driven slide 131 to provide up and down motionof about three inches. Mounted on top of the slide 131 is an air-driven,180° rotary actuator 133 to which is attached a gripper mounting plate134 with four air-driven, parallel grippers 135 and 136. Each of thefour grippers is equipped with a pair of fingers shaped for clamping theneck of an angle body.

Referring to FIGS. 35 thru 37, assembled angles A are removed from thefixture 50 as follows:

Step 1: The pick-and-place 130 lowers to its “down” position where twoangles A1 already held by the closed grippers 135 are positioned in thetops of the two diverter tubes 272. This downward motion also places theopen grippers 136 in position to grip the two angles A2 in the fixture50.

Step 2: Sensors verify these motions so that immediately uponcompletion, the two grippers 136 in the fixture 50 close, gripping theangles A2 in the fixture 50, while the two grippers 135 at the diverter270 open, dropping the two angles A1 into the diverter tubes 272. Theangles A1 fall through the tubes 272 and, if accepted, slide down the“accepts” chute 66 to the bagging unit feed conveyor 23 shown in FIGS. 1and 2. If rejected, the angles slide down the “rejects” chute 65 andfall into a container 22 below.

Step 3: The pick-and-place 130 lifts, removing the two angles A2 fromthe fixture 50 as the other two angles A1 fall through the divertertubes 272.

Step 4: When the pick-and-place 130 reaches the “up” position, therotary actuator 133 rotates 180° transferring the angles A2 from aposition directly above the fixture 50 to a position directly above thetubes 272 of the diverter mechanism 270. Simultaneously, the dial plate49 indexes moving the fixtures 50 one position to the next station.

At Station Fourteen, the fixture is reset.

Referring to FIG. 38, Station Fourteen 14 consists of a station post 150to which is mounted a clamp block 151 and a cylinder mounting plate 152in the same manner as Station Two described above. A pair of aircylinders 153 is mounted below the dial plate 49 in axial alignment withthe mounting posts 78.

Step 1: The air cylinders 153 extend upward shoving the pins 85 backinto the mounting posts 78.

Step 2: No action occurs.

Step 3: The air cylinders 153 retract.

Step 4: The dial plate 49 indexes, moving the fixtures 50 one positionto the next station.

Stations Fifteen 15 and Sixteen 16, shown in FIG. 2, are not used inthis embodiment. These stations, along with Station Ten 10 are intendedfor alternate embodiments in which additional operations are required.In one alternative embodiment, a prophy angle consisting of fivecomponents is assembled. In this embodiment, any of these additionalstations 10, 15, and 16 may be used as an additional assembly station,an additional lubrication station, or an additional inspection station.

The assembly unit 17 is preferably controlled by a programmable logiccontroller (PLC) located in the operator control panel 67 mounted to thebody feed module base 51. The timing of all operations of the assemblyunit 17 are preferably controlled logically by the PLC instead ofmechanically. Logical timing involves sensing each machine operation andproceeding with the next operation in a step-by-step manner as describedabove only when all of the operations of the previous step have beensensed confirmed by the PLC. Therefore, the assembly unit 17 ispreferably equipped with sensors to confirm the completion of eachoperation. These sensors are preferably solid-state such as Hall effect,proximity, or photoelectric types that are typically optional equipmenton most air cylinders, slides, and rotary actuators as is commonly knownin the art.

The accepted angles from the assembly unit 17 are carried from StationThirteen 13 by a first belt conveyor 23 to the bagging unit 18 as shownin FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 39, the bagging unit 18 preferably includesa vertical form-fill-and-seal bagging machine 300 that is readilyavailable and commonly known to those skilled in the art. The baggingunit 18 also includes a vibratory feeder bowl 301, and a gravity trackmagazine 302 equipped with an escapement mechanism 303.

A base 314 supports the vibratory feeder bowl 301. This base 314 ispreferably constructed as a steel weldment similar to the basesdescribed above but sized to position the feeder bowl 301 above thebagging machine 300. The base 314 is preferably attached to the baggingmachine 300 to stabilize the feeder bowl 301 and maintain its preciseposition relative to the bagging machine 300.

The vibratory feeder bowl 301 receives the assembled angles from thebelt conveyor 23, orients the angles to be accepted by the baggingmachine 300, and feeds them to a gravity track magazine 302 locateddirectly above the bagging machine 300. The feeder bowl 301 alsoprovides accumulation of angles and, therefore, serves as a bufferbetween the assembly unit 17 and the bagging machine 300 to ensure anuninterrupted supply of angles to the bagging machine 300. Since it isequipped with its own feeder bowl 301, the bagging unit 18 does not haveto be integrated with the assembly machine 17, but may be operatedindependently as further described below. This reduces overall downtimeby allowing the bagging unit 18 to continue to operate in the event theassembly unit 17 is not in operation, say due to maintenance or repair,and vice versa.

The escapement mechanism 303, which is triggered by the bagging machine300 to ensure proper timing, is located near the end of the magazine302, releasing one angle at a time into the bagging machine 300. Theangles fall, by gravity, preferably head first, through the baggingmachine 300 where they are sealed in individual bags.

The individually bagged angles drop by gravity from the bagging machine300 and slide down a chute 313 onto a second belt conveyor 24 thatcarries them to the batch-counting unit 19. The chute 313 is removableso that the bagging unit 18 may be operated independent of the rest ofthe machine as described below.

The batch-counting unit 19 includes a diverting mechanism 304 thataccepts or rejects the bagged angles based on a signal from the baggingunit 18. This signal, indicating a malfunction in the bagging unit 18,activates the diverting mechanism 304 to reject improperly baggedangles. A switch is provided on the control panel 305 to allow themachine operator to manually override the diverting mechanism 304 sothat angles may also be rejected at the operator's discretion. Baggedangles that have been rejected fall through the reject tube 306 into acontainer 307 for later review. Bagged angles that are not rejected bythe diverting mechanism 304 fall through the fill tube 308 into an emptycarton 25 at the fill position 309 located at the end of the firstaccumulating conveyor 26.

The batch-counting unit 19 also includes a sensor 310 to detect eachbagged angle as it drops from the end of the belt conveyor 24. Thissensor 310 is preferably optic, such as a light screen or an opticalwindow, both of which are commonly known to those skilled in the art. Acounter 311 mounted in the control panel 305 indicates both the actualbatch count and a preset value that is input by the operator.

The batch-counting unit 19 is located directly above the firstaccumulating conveyor 26 that supplies it with empty cartons 25. Thecounter 311 counts bagged angles as they pass the sensor 310. When thecount value reaches the preset value input by the operator, the counter311 resets to zero and begins counting another batch of bagged angles.At the same time, a door 312 located near the lower end of the fill tube308 closes creating a chamber within the fill tube 308. The fill tube308 is sized to collect enough bagged angles, a dozen or so, to providethe time necessary to replace the full carton at the fill position 309with an empty one 25.

An air cylinder 320 shoves the full carton from the fill position 309 onthe first accumulating conveyor 26 to the second accumulating conveyor30. The air cylinder 320 immediately retracts allowing an empty carton25 to advance into the fill position 309. When the empty carton 25reaches the fill position 309, the door 312 opens, dropping the baggedangles that have accumulated in the fill tube 308 while the previouslyfilled carton 27 was being transferred.

Referring to FIG. 1, the second accumulating conveyor 30 carries fullcartons 27 away from the batch-counting unit 19 to the carton-sealingunit 20. The carton-sealing unit 20, which is an item commonly known tothose skilled in the art, is preferably integrated with the secondaccumulating conveyor 30 such that the full cartons 27 are closed andsealed by the carton-sealing unit 20 as they are carried by theaccumulating conveyor 30.

From the carton-sealing unit 20, the accumulating conveyor 30 carriesthe sealed cartons 29 to an operator station 28 where the operatorremoves them. This same operator places empty cartons 25 onto the firstaccumulating conveyor 26 to continue the cycle. Sensors, preferablyphotoelectric, are mounted at various locations along the accumulatingconveyors 26 and 30. These sensors are used for control purposes, as iscommon practice with the use of accumulating conveyors, to coordinatethe operation of the batch-counting unit 19 and the carton-sealing unit20 and to alert the operator in the event of a machine irregularity ormalfunction.

In the preferred embodiment, the assembly unit 17, bagging unit 18,batch-counting unit 19, carton-sealing unit 20, both belt conveyors 23and 24, and both accumulating conveyors 26 and 30 are integrated tooperate as a single machine. However, the units are integrated in a waythat permits independent operation of the individual units. As mentionedabove, the assembly unit 17 is equipped with its own PLC to allow itsoperation independent of the rest of the machine. The bagging machine 18is also equipped to operate independently. The batch-counting unit 19 isoperated as an option to the bagging unit 18. And the carton-sealingunit 20 is operated as an option to the batch-counting unit 19.

The ability to operate individual units provides additional flexibility.For example, if the individually bagged angles are to be packaged inplastic bags instead of cartons 25, then reusable batch containers maybe used instead of cartons 25 on the accumulating conveyors 26 and 30.The preferred embodiment provides for this situation by allowing thebagging and batch-counting units 18 and 19 to be operated without thecarton-sealing unit 20. The accumulating conveyor 30 simply carries thereusable container full of bagged angles through the non-operationalcarton-sealing unit 20 to the operator station 28. At this point, theoperator transfers the bagged angles from the reusable batch containerto a plastic bag. Empty reusable batch containers are placed onto thefirst accumulating conveyor 26 the same as cartons 25 to repeat thecycle.

While a preferred automated assembly and packaging machine has beendescribed in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the washeraccording to the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A method relating to assembling a dental product, the dental producthaving a body, a first gear member, and a second gear member, the bodyincluding a portion attachable to a dental handpiece, a closure attachedto the body by a hinge, and at least one latch for securing the closureto the body, the method comprising: taking and orienting a body of adental product to receive a first gear member; and placing the body in afixture in an orientation where at least a portion of a hinge of thebody is located higher than at least a portion of the portion of thebody attachable to a dental handpiece.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving and holding the body of the dental product at thefixture by the portion of the body attachable to a dental handpiece. 3.The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the body in anorientation where at least a portion of the closure is adjacent arotatable member operable to engage the closure and latch the closure tothe body.
 4. The method of claim 1: wherein the body is placed in afixture at a body station, which body station is one of a plurality ofstations; and/or wherein the method includes at a plurality of fixtures,supporting the body, the first gear member, and the second gear memberof a dental product on each fixture as the dental product is beingassembled, and moving the fixtures past the plurality of stations atwhich different assembly steps are performed.
 5. A method relating toassembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a firstgear member, and a second gear member, the body including a portionattachable to a dental handpiece, and a hinged closure attached to thebody, the method comprising: providing a plurality of dissimilarlyoriented bodies; positioning multiple ones of the bodies in similarorientations in a track; suspending the similarly oriented multiplebodies from the track by the hinged closure of each body; moving thesimilarly oriented multiple bodies along the track; isolating a singlebody from the multiple bodies in the track by raising a single body fromthe track; holding the isolated body from the track for transfer to afixture for holding the dental product during assembly; and transferringthe isolated body to the fixture.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising raising and holding the isolated body of the dental productfrom the track by the portion of the body attachable to a dentalhandpiece.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving andholding the isolated body of the dental product at the fixture duringassembly by the portion of the body attachable to a dental handpiece. 8.The method of claim 5: wherein the oriented bodies are parallel to eachother and side by side in the track; and/or wherein the bodies arepositioned in a track of a body station, which is one of a plurality ofstations; and/or wherein the method includes at a plurality of fixtures,supporting the body, the first gear member, and the second gear memberof a dental product on each fixture as the dental product is beingassembled, and moving the fixtures past the plurality of stations atwhich different assembly steps are performed.
 9. A method relating toassembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a firstgear member having a gear end and a shaft end, and a second gear member,the method comprising: receiving and holding a body of the dentalproduct at a fixture during assembly; providing a plurality ofdissimilarly oriented first gear members; positioning multiple ones ofthe first gear members in similar orientations in a track; suspendingthe similarly oriented multiple first gear members by the gear end ofeach first gear member from the track; moving the similarly orientedmultiple first gear members along the track; isolating a first gearmember from the multiple first gear members in the track by raising asingle first gear member from the track; holding the isolated first gearmember from the track for transfer to the body in the fixture; andtransferring the isolated first gear member to the body in the fixture.10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first gear member is positionedwithin the body in an orientation where the gear end is located higherthan the shaft end.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first gearmember is inserted into the body shaft end first.
 12. The method ofclaim 9: wherein isolating a first gear member includes engaging theshaft end of the first gear member to raise the first gear member fromthe track; and/or wherein the similarly oriented multiple first gearmembers are oriented and fed along the track in pairs diameter todiameter; and/or wherein the first gear members are positioned in atrack of a first gear member, which is one of a plurality of stations;and/or wherein the method includes at a plurality of fixtures,supporting the body, the first gear member, and the second gear memberof a dental product on each fixture as the dental product is beingassembled, and moving the fixtures past the plurality of stations atwhich different assembly steps are performed.
 13. A method relating toassembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, a firstgear member, and a second gear member having a flange, the methodcomprising: at a fixture, receiving and holding a body and a first gearmember of the dental product during assembly; providing a plurality ofdissimilarly oriented second gear members; positioning multiple ones ofthe second gear members in similar orientations in a track; suspendingthe similarly oriented multiple second gear members by the flange ofeach second gear member from the track; moving the similarly orientedmultiple second gear members along the track; isolating a second gearmember from the multiple second gear members in the track by moving asingle second gear member from the track; holding the isolated secondgear member from the track for transfer to the body at the fixture; andtransferring the isolated second gear member to the body at the fixture.14. The method of claim 13: wherein isolating a second gear memberincludes engaging the flange of the second gear member to raise thesecond gear member from the track; and/or wherein the similarly orientedmultiple second gear members are oriented and fed along the trackdiameter to diameter; and/or wherein the second gear members arepositioned in a track of a second gear member station, which is one of aplurality of stations; and/or wherein the method includes at a pluralityof fixtures, supporting the body, the first gear member, and the secondgear member of a dental product on each fixture as the dental product isbeing assembled, and moving the fixtures past the plurality of stationsat which different assembly steps are performed.
 15. A method relatingto assembling a dental product, the dental product having a body, afirst gear member, a second gear member, and a tool having a base endattachable to a second gear member, the method comprising: at a fixture,receiving and holding a body, a first gear member, and a second gearmember of the dental product during assembly; providing a plurality ofdissimilarly oriented tools; positioning multiple ones of the tools insimilar orientations in a track; supporting the similarly oriented toolsby a base end of each tool from the track; moving the similarly orientedmultiple tools along the track; isolating a single tool from themultiple tools in the track by moving a single tool from the track;holding the isolated tool from the track for transfer to the body at thefixture; and transferring the isolated tool to the body at the fixture.16. The method of claim 15: wherein the similarly oriented multipletools are oriented and fed along the track diameter-to-diameter, axisvertical, large diameter down; and wherein the tools are positioned in atrack of a tool station, which is one of a plurality of stations; and/orwherein the method includes at a plurality of fixtures, supporting thebody, the first gear member, and the second gear member of a dentalproduct on each fixture as the dental product is being assembled, andmoving the fixtures past the plurality of stations at which differentassembly steps are performed.
 17. A method relating to holding a dentalproduct during assembly of the dental product, the dental productincluding a body and a first gear member having a gear end and a shaftend, the body including a portion attachable to a dental handpiece, aportion that receives the first gear member, and a closure attached tothe body by a hinge, the method comprising receiving and holding eachbody at a corresponding fixture and positioning the closure of each bodyadjacent a support section of each fixture such that each body isreceived and held at the corresponding fixture in an orientation toreceive the first gear member such that at least a portion of the hingeis located higher than at least a portion of the portion of the bodyattachable to a dental handpiece.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising receiving and holding each body by the portion of each bodyattachable to the dental handpiece.
 19. A method relating to assemblinga dental product, the dental product including a body having a closureattached by a hinge and at least one latch, and first and second gearmembers, the method comprising: at a plurality of fixtures, supporting abody, a first gear member, and a second gear member of a dental producton each fixture as the dental product is being assembled; locating ahinged closure of the body of each supported dental product adjacent arotatable member of the fixture supporting the respective dentalproduct; moving an actuator into engagement with at least one of theplurality of fixtures such that the actuator rotates the rotatablemember of the at least one of the plurality of fixtures causing therotatable member to rotate, contact the hinged closure of the dentalproduct supported by the at least one of the plurality of fixtures, androtate and latch the hinged closure to encapsulate the first and secondgear members in the body.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprisingmoving the fixtures past a plurality of stations at which differentassembly steps are performed.